Political Notebook: Duvall is county's new GOP chairman

Metro Councilman Robert Duvall, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Republican before winning his nonpartisan council seat in 2006 and then lost a bid for the state House last year, recently put another election victory on his résumé.

Duvall, who also has been lobbying state legislators this session, is the new chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party.

"I am honored by the faith my fellow Nashville Republicans have placed in me," he said in a news release. "I am equally pleased with the great team Republicans have given me as we prepare for the coming elections."

Colbert has fun with sink confusion

"What is a mop sink other than a Muslim mop bath?" Colbert joked. "Think about it: A mop is nothing but a beard on a stick."

Muslims are required to wash their feet before praying.

- Michael Cass

Bill banning UN observers defeated

A bill to ban United Nations observers went down in defeat last week.

The measure's troubles began when Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper issued a formal opinion saying House Bill 589 would violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution because it would amount to the state setting foreign policy. The attorney general also pointed out that U.N. officials would be immune from prosecution.

The ruling didn't deter the measure's sponsor, state Rep. Micah Van Huss. The Jonesborough Republican pressed for the bill to be taken up by the House Civil Justice subcommittee, which did on Tuesday.

The bill received some support, with two members criticizing the United Nations for perceived bias against the U.S. But that wasn't enough to convince the rest, who voted it down 6-2.

- Chas Sisk

Ticketing bill draws protest

Tea party groups protested the Fairness in Ticketing Act, a bill that would limit the resale of tickets to concerts, games and other events.

In a letter signed by tea party organizers Ben Cunningham and Ken Marrero, the Nashville Tea Party and Tennessee ConserVoliance said they are joining the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, the American Conservative Union and the Institute for Liberty in opposing the measure, SB 609/HB 1000. "Our groups believe that when we buy tickets, it is OUR choice whether to use them, give them away or resell them," Cunningham and Marrero write.

Venue operators, as well as TicketMaster, support the bill, arguing that it will curb ticket scalping. Ticket resellers, such as StubHub, say it will steer the resale business to websites operated by TicketMaster and the venues themselves.

The Senate delayed two votes on the bill last week. It is now on Monday's calendar.

- Chas Sisk

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Political Notebook: Duvall is county's new GOP chairman

Metro Councilman Robert Duvall, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Republican before winning his nonpartisan council seat in 2006 and then lost a bid for the state House last year, recently put